KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's Cantus Femina and Collegiate Singers will join forces at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, in the University's Dalton Center Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Cantus Femina opens the concert with "Ergen Deda," a Bulgarian folk song with drum accompaniment. The centerpiece of the concert is "Reasons for the Perpetuation of Slavery" by Elizabeth Alexander. The piece is not about shame or blame, but rather about the hidden reasons for slavery—even today. In Alexander's own words:
"It's about what drives humans to control other people in such an extreme way. Why do we want more and more stuff, more and more security, more and more leisure? Why do we let low prices drive so many of our decisions? Why does the human race so often fail to live up to its own cherished ideal?"
Cantus Femina will end the set with "The Rising" by Andrea Ramsery and "Da Pacem" by Hakan Olsson.
Collegiate Singers will perform in the second half of the concert, featuring the men of the ensemble in "Brothers Sing On." The rest of Collegiates will sing "Five Childhood Lyrics" by John Rutter, and a piece by Lili Boulanger.
For more information about the concert, visit wmich.edu/music or call (269) 387-4667.
For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.